Potato Surplus

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25589, 2 September 1948, Page 4

Potato Surplus

Canterbury potato growers, who have an estimated surplus of 20,000 tons for which no market can be found, will not be appeased by the Minister of Marketing (Mr E. L. Cullen), whose statement is printed this morning. The Government, which asked them to grow more potatoes, is committed to take over all surplus fair average quality potatoes held by growers on November 30; but Mr Cullen says he does not intend to reconsider the terms of the contract. He gives an unconvincing reason, which takes no account of the growers’ present position. Mr Cullen says the contract has ruled for five years on the same terms and has never been questioned before. The very fact that a contract which has not been questioned before is questioned now gives the Minister his answer. Growers have been left with a surplus which is largely the product of the Government’s intensive campaign for more production. Potatoes are an expensive crop to grow. If there is no market for the present surplus, as it seems, growers have a reasonable claim to some compensation for their outlay. They should not have to wait three months to take advantage of the Government’s contract, for by November 30 a substantial quantity of the crop will have deteriorated and will not qualify for the f.a.q. grade stipulated. Legally the Government is entitled to abide by its contract. Morally it has an obligation to the growers whom it asked to grow more potatoes and who have done it. Without some assistance many growers are likely to have neither the finance nor the inclination to undertake next year’s crop. .